The SaintCast - Catholic Saints on Call

Today, we welcome to the SaintCast, a friend and former high school debate team member, John Allen. You know John as the Senior Vatican correspondent for CNN and as Senior Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. He enlightens us on the formal process of canonization as it exists today, managed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the Roman Curia. John is the author of many books on Catholic topics, which can be accessed through the links below. SaintCast is mentioned around the world, courtesy of the Catholic News Service - see the link below, and an article in one of Brazil's leading newspapers. We discuss "Cooking with Saints" and "A Doctor at Calvary" in the book segment. And John Paul II is perhaps 2 more miracles closer to being declared a saint, with some speculating it might occur as early as 2008. All this and more on this week's SaintCast.

This SaintCast sponsored by Todd from Houston, Texas, for his wife and girls. We profile the first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, the foundress of Catholic education in the United States. Grab your stethoscope and learn about a couple of the first Doctors of the Church, in this week's Calendar of the Saints. Fr. Seraphim Beshoner of the Catholic Under the Hood podcast pays a visit to the SaintCast and we discuss Notre Dame football, the difference between religious and diocesan clerics, and the history of the Franciscans. Stay tuned for our interview with CNN and National Catholic Reporter Senior Vatican correspondent, John Allen, on the next SaintCast. Songs from this episode . . . Bree Noble with "Can You See the Stars," at music.podshow.com American Baroque with "Dances and Suites of Rameau and Couperin" at magnatune.com Podcasts mentioned on this episode . . . Catholic Under the Hood at www.catholicunderthehood.com St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine at www.emmitsburg.net/setonshrine/index.htm

A Soundseeing tour with Paul, his son Chris, and Fr. Julian Haas, OFM Cap., of the Capuchin Curia in Rome, of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where soon pilgrims will be able to see the newly confirmed tomb of the Apostle to the Gentiles. We learn all about the martyrs celebrated this week in the Octave of Christmas. The Seat of the Soul in the Foot? Hear what an orthopedic surgeon listener has to say about that. Christmas traditions from Italy, Sweden, St. Lucy's Cuccia and more. . . New Saints and Blesseds for the coming year, and a noted author and Vatican insider comes to the SaintCast to discuss the process of canonization next week. All this and more on this week's SaintCast. Special thanks to Kathy Couture for production assistance and script writing. Songs from this episode . . . "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem," at www.dustyhughes.com "Good King Wenceslas," from www.thanksmuch.com Podcasts mentioned on this episode . . . Phedipiddations at www.Steverunner.com

Learn Dutch on the SaintCast! . . More on Sinterklaas from dutchgrammar.com, St. Isidore looks down on Boston College, Fr. Jay Finelli on the Saints in the Mass, St. Jeopardy quiz answer, More on Church Doctors, The Saints of the Week, and a great quote from St. John of the Cross on this week's SaintCast. Music from Garageband.com Noche de Paz by Mike del Ferro, Stille Nacht by Thorvald Thanks to Bieneke Berendsen of the dutchgrammar.com podcast More on Silent Night at http://silentnight.web.za/history/index.htm

On this SaintCast Extra, we profile the real, St. Nicholas of Myra, delve into legends surrounding his life, and discuss modern day customs related to Sinterklaas! We learn about and pray to the Saints of Advent. From Xavier and Ambrose, to John the Baptist, Lucy, and Thomas, St. Nicholas, and of course, Mary and Joseph, there are great saints to look to every day this month. St. Jeopardy returns with a St. Nicholas-related trivia question, and we continue our profile of the Doctor of Prayer, St. Teresa of Avila, who once remarked to God, "If this is how you treat your friends, it's no wonder you have so few!" Songs from this episode . . . "Jolly Old St. Nicholas," by the Dean Krippaehne at www.garageband.com "Jolly Old St. Nicholas" by Chet Heflin, at www.sibeliusmusic.com "Vihuela Duets of Valderraban" by Duo Chambure, at www.magnatune.com "Chants of Russian the Russian Orthodox Church" by Monks and Choirs of Kiev Pechersk Lavra, at www.magnatune.com Songs from the Album, Christmas Celebration, by Cynthia Jordan and George Winston, at www.cynthiamusic.com St. Nicholas link - www.stnicholascenter.org Steve the Jazzman Bauer at www.jazznotes.net

This SaintCast is sponsored by Terri of Jefferson City, Missouri. Who are the 'Doctors of the Church?' In this episode we introduce a new segment on the Doctors of the Church, and profile our first Doctor, Teresa of Avila. A number of great Saints in the calendar for this week including Francis Xavier, St. John Damascene, St. Juan Diego, and Jolly Old St. Nicholas! The new TV series on neurosurgery . . DOA after only 3 episodes. '"3 lbs. we hardly knew you." More audiofeedback on the Seat of the Soul, and a Saint book review from the CatholicComuter, at [email protected]. Gratefully, no SaintCast crooning on this episode, but great podsafe Advent music from Dusty Hughes, at dustyhughes.com, and Saintly music from the Notre Dame Liturgical choir.

In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Paul posts the latest SaintCast. We review the new American TV series called "3 lbs." about the "seat of the soul", the human brain. The diocesan phase for the cause for canonization of Albino Luciani, Pope John Paul I, has been forwarded to the Vatican. We include a prayer for his intercession. News of a medical miracle attributed to his intercession in southern Italy. What is the Tau Cross of St. Francis? Tune in for the answer. Check your closets for any pieces of Renaissance art. A British citizen did and found 2 works of Blessed Fra Angelico, worth over 2 million pounds! We tell the story. A bit of a trick question on last week's St. Jeopardy, but several international listeners correctly named Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini as the first American citizen to be canonized. Please continue to pray for the success of the SQPN fund drive. Consider sponsoring a SaintCast for someone you love or your own special patron Saint. A link to the novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe is included below. Finally, who is your candidate for the Patron Saint of Podcasting? Let me know on the voice feedback line, skype to pjcamarata, or e-mail me. http://libsyn.com/media/rosaryarmy/MaximilianNovena.mp3

Join us on a Soundseeing tour of the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend, Indiana, USA. We pay a brief visit to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart (more to come), and statues around campus. The long-awaited answer to our last St. Jeopardy is revealed! Help out SQPN by Sponsoring a SaintCast - dedicate one to your favorite Saint, a friend, or a loved one. We'll profile a special Saint, just for you. News of a new miracle has reached the Cause for Canonization of John Paul II, in the healing of someone with incurable cancer in southern Italy. The Patron Saint of artists, stem cell discussions, and lots of feedback, on this week's SaintCast.